American Pharoah gives Baffert goose bumps with Thursday work

DEL MAR, Calif. – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah gave trainer Bob Baffert goose bumps with his work Thursday at Del Mar, a drill officially timed in 1:11 for six furlongs, with American Pharoah always into the bit, eagerly looking to do more in his penultimate work for the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

“He’s getting faster. I’m getting goose bumps,” Baffert said after American Pharoah completed the work, which came just five days after a demanding work Saturday.

Baffert said American Pharoah will come back in another five days for an easy half-mile Tuesday, five days prior to the Haskell. American Pharoah is scheduled to fly Wednesday to New Jersey.

“I work them every five days once in a while,” Baffert said. “This is the first time I’ve done it with a Triple Crown winner.”

Baffert was extremely anxious before the drill.

“I don’t sleep well before I work this horse,” he said, pacing on a walkway in the grandstand just before American Pharoah came onto the track.

But after watching American Pharoah glide through the stretch under jockey Martin Garcia, the tension melted away, and Baffert smiled and joked around.

“I’m really happy with the work,” Baffert said. “He did it in hand. He’s fun to watch work.”

Baffert had American Pharoah going five furlongs in 59 seconds flat. American Pharoah jogged with the pony until shortly before reaching the 5 1/2-furlong pole and was at top speed within a matter of strides. John Malone, Del Mar’s head clocker, had fractions of 12.40, 24, 36.20, 58.80, and 1:11, with gallop-out times of 1:24 for seven furlongs and 1:38.40 for a mile.

“The track is demanding, but he doesn’t make it look demanding,” Baffert said. “He’s right on course. There’s no excuses. We’re ready.”

When the work was over, Baffert got on the radio to Garcia and asked if American Pharoah was tired.

“Nada,” came the reply from Garcia.

Ahmed Zayat, the owner of American Pharoah, attended the work with his family, including his son, Justin, the stable’s racing manager.

Baffert said American Pharoah will return to Del Mar following the Haskell, but neither he nor the Zayats have committed to anything beyond the Haskell.

Baffert has won the Haskell seven times, all since 2001, including four times in the last five years. He and the Zayats teamed to win the Haskell in 2012 with Paynter.